Physician Associate Lancing, England
Job description
Are you looking for the opportunity to work on the south coast in Primary Care with a supportive team of colleagues?
Lancing and Sompting Primary Care Network (PCN) is looking for 2 Physician Associates to work across 1 or 2 practices full or part time.
We are supportive and forward thinking with the hope of expanding and diversifying our clinical teams to provide acute and longer-term care across our population.
We hope that successful candidates would be able to support the practice(s) with on the day urgent care, and potentially with the proactive care needs around frailty, mental health and other chronic conditions, flexible to the skill mix of the candidate.
Within the PCN we have a broad team to support the role which includes Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, Care Coordinators, Physiotherapists, ANPs and Paramedic.
Along with the education and support within the practices and PCN, we are connected to our neighbouring PCNs and our Federation (IPC) to provide a network for peer support within the role.
There is potential for training and development which is encouraged.
PCN Physician Associate - Job Description and Person Specification:
Job Title: PCN Physician Associate
Accountable To: PCN Clinical Director
The Physician Associate will work closely and collaboratively with other clinicians and the wider team in the practice(s) and PCN team to provide care for people with a breadth of conditions that fit within their skill mix. They will independently assess, diagnose and manage patients with acute and chronic medical condition, coordinating with other primary and secondary healthcare services. They will coordinate care with other members of the team and external providers. They will be expected to use latest guidance and evidence to support their decisions and have a holistic, patient centred approach to management plans for both patients and their carers
Whilst the Physician Associate role is not able to prescribe independently at present the expectation will be to make recommendations regarding drug treatment and medication reviews. If legislation changes to allow prescribing or requesting of investigations using ionizing radiation, the physician associate will be supported to undertake the appropriate training and additional qualifications to ensure these roles can be performed with support of the practice.
Appropriate training, mentoring and supervision will be provided by the practice and PCN team and there will be the opportunity for networking and peer support extending wider with neighbouring PCNs and the federation IPC.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Physician Associate has the following key responsibilities in delivering health services within Lancing & Sompting PCN. This may vary with the Physician Associate’s specific skill mix. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
a) Provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems by utilising history-taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where applicable).
b) Following appropriate training, to support the management of patients’ conditions by offering clinics including and not limited to Frailty, Care Home rounds, Family Planning, Cervical Screening, Baby Checks, COPD, Asthma, Diabetes and Anticoagulation.
c) Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice, alongside analysing and actioning diagnostic test results.
d) Develop integrated patient-centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care networks.
e) Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice and partake in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks.
f) Participate in on the day duty rotas, undertaking face to face, telephone and online consultations for emergency and routine problems including management of patients with long term conditions.
g) Receive referrals and directed patients from triage services and other clinicians.
h) Manage a caseload of patients and work with care institutions.
i) Plan, implement and evaluate treatment / interventions for patients with acute and chronic physical and psychological conditions.
j) Utilise as needed the full range of non-drug therapies for all patients, consider pharmacological interventions and make recommendations to prescribers in accordance with evidence-based practice, local and national protocols.
k) Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.
l) Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles and apply principles of self-care.
m) Provide targeted support and proactive reviews for vulnerable, complex patients and those at risk of admission and re-admission to secondary care.
n) Develop and agree a personal development plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to practice, operating under appropriate clinical supervision.
o) Review the latest guidance ensuring the organisation conforms to NICE, CQC etc.
p) Be responsive to the changing needs of patients and service provision in terms of scope and nature of clinical practice.
q) Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
r) Undertake clinical responsibilities as required by the organisation within scope of practice defined by RCP/GMC.
s) Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the GMC.
t) Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient
consultations, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
u) Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near miss events.
v) Develop yourself and the role through participation in clinical supervision, training and service redesign activities.
w) Contribute to a patient safety culture through the reporting and investigation of significant events and patient safety incidents and to undertake proactive measures to improve patient safety
Secondary Responsibilities:
In addition to the Primary responsibilities the Physicians Associate may be requested to:
a) Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost
effectiveness initiatives.
b) Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the
post or the level of responsibility.
c) There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be
dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.
d) Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role,
ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.
Personal Development:
The Practices and PCN encourage and support personal learning and development and would hope that this is reflected in team members commitment to ongoing lifelong learning. The Physicians Associate would be encouraged to:
a) Demonstrate an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice.
b) Maintain and develop professional competence and expertise, keep up to date with medical/therapeutic evidence and opinion, and local and national service, legislation and policy developments, agree objectives and a personal development plan and participate in the appraisal process.
c) Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the role and responsibilities.
d) Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
e) Work with your line manager to access regular ‘clinical supervision’, to enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present.
f) Review yearly progress and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others. Participate in the delivery of formal education programmes.
g) Demonstrate an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keep up to date with relevant clinical practice protocols.
Learning and Development:
The effective use of training and development is fundamental to ensuring that all the team are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake and complete mandatory training as directed by the training coordinator, as well as participating in the practice training programme.
Staff will also be permitted (subject to approval) to undertake external training courses which will enhance their knowledge and skills, progress their career and ultimately enable them to improve processes and service delivery.
Preceptorship Year for PAs in Primary Care - this opportunity is available in the first 12 months of working in primary care (and within 3 years of registration) and an eligible PA is encouraged and supported to join this.
Collaborative Working:
All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working. Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments. Effective communication is also essential and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.
Staff are to prioritise their own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.
Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments and the post holder is to work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working and to work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.
Effective communication is essential, and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.
All staff should delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.
Person Specification - PCN Physician Associate
Qualifications
Essential: Post Graduate Diploma, Masters or MSc in Physician, Associate Studies from a UK Physician Associate Programme, or US Physician Associate Programme, Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates, Registered on the PA Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR)
Experience:
Essential: Experience of communicating and engaging effectively with internal and external agencies/ stakeholders.
Desirable: Post Registration Experience, Experience of working in Primary Care, Experience of Partnership/Collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential: Demonstrates an understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice. Awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-terms conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice. Competent in the use of Microsoft Office Tools. Able to analyse and interpret complex clinical information and present information in a clear way. Able to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol. Proven problem-solving skills. Able to gain acceptance for recommendations and influence and motivate the audience to comply with recommendations/course of action where there may be significant barriers. Understanding of clinical governance. Understanding of research principles. Ability to develop, implement and embed policy and procedure.
Desirable: In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare. EMIS User Skills. Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and factors and their impact on Communities. Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information and interpret data to draw conclusions.
Personal Qualities
Essential: Polite and confident, Flexible and co-operative, Excellent interpersonal skills, Motivated and proactive, Ability to work well under pressure, Confident and resilient, High levels of integrity and loyalty, Forward thinker with a solution focused approach, Ability to drive and deliver change effectively, Commitment to ongoing professional development.
Other Requirements
Essential: Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Check, Occupational Health Clearance
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 20-37.50 per week
Salary: £22.50-£26.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Lancing: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE 1
